R 061825Z NOV 09

ALCOAST 637/09
COMDTNOTE 1001
SUBJ: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD (SECDEF-
ESFA) AND OTHER EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE (ESGR)
AWARDS
1. ANNUALLY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND ESGR SPONSOR THE SECDEF-
ESFA. THE SECDEF-ESFA AWARD WAS CREATED TO RECOGNIZE THE EXEMPLARY
WAYS THE NATIONS EMPLOYERS SUPPORT THEIR NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE
EMPLOYEES. THE SECDEF-ESFA IS THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION GIVEN BY THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO EMPLOYERS FOR THE OUTSTANDING SUPPORT
OF THEIR EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE
COMPONENTS.
2. THE FIRST SECDEF-ESFA WAS AWARDED IN 1996.  IN THE YEARS SINCE,
OVER 100 EMPLOYERS HAVE RECEIVED THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.  TODAY, 15
AWARDS ARE PRESENTED EACH YEAR TO EMPLOYERS IN 3 CATEGORIES, BIG
BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
3. THE NOMINATION PROCESS IS OPEN TO ALL GUARD AND RESERVE
PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES.  NOMINATION FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS
ARE AVAILABLE ON-LINE AT HTTP://WWW.FREEDOMAWARD.MIL/NOMINATE.ASPX.
THE NOMINATION PERIOD IS OPEN FROM 2 NOV 09 TO 18 JAN 10.  A
NATIONAL SELECTION BOARD COMPRISED OF SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIALS
AND BUSINESS LEADERS SELECT THE AWARD RECIPIENTS.
4. OTHER ESGR AWARDS INCLUDE:
  A. THE PATRIOT AWARD. RESERVISTS CAN DIRECTLY NOMINATE THEIR
EMPLOYER FOR THIS AWARD. NOMINATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE
ESGR WEB SITE AT  HTTP://WWW.ESGR.ORG.
  B.  THE ABOVE AND BEYOND, AND THE PRO PATRIA AWARDS ARE PRESENTED
ANNUALLY BY STATE AND TERRITORY ESGR COMMITTEES.  THESE PRESTIGIOUS
AWARDS ARE GLEANED DIRECTLY FROM PATRIOT AWARD NOMINATIONS RECEIVED
FROM RESERVISTS.
5. I ENCOURAGE ALL COAST GUARD RESERVISTS TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE
YOUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYERS FOR THE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS YOU ENJOY,
AND FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF YOUR SERVICE TO AMERICA.  YOU CAN SHOW
YOUR APPRECIATION BY NOMINATING THEM FOR THESE AWARDS.
6. CAPT S.E. VANDERPLAS, ACTING DIRECTOR OF RESERVE AND
TRAINING,SENDS.
7.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.